Auntie Anne’s Pretzels has entered its 25th country after opening in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The opening is part of a master franchise agreement with K&H Vietnam Co. Ltd., which includes plans to open 30 units in the country throughout the next eight years.
Auntie Anne’s first Vietnamese opening comes on the heels of a successful 2012, in which the company opened 85 units abroad and entered six new countries. The landmark Vietnamese unit, which is owned and operated by master franchise partners and husband-and-wife team, Thien Huong Nguyen and Boonkue Witchawut, represents the company’s 332nd international location.
As Auntie Anne’s sets its sights on further international development in such countries as India, Aruba, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, France, Brunei and the Bahamas, executives are seeking ideal area developers and master franchise partners. Auntie Anne’s continues to focus on growth in traditional locations such as malls and outlet centers as well as in non-traditional spaces including universities, amusement parks, airports, travel plazas and military bases.
“The Vietnam opening is a landmark in our international expansion plans, and we’ve been thrilled with the consumer response we’ve seen thus far,” said Mike Shattuck, president of parent company FOCUS Brands International. “We’re confident that we’ll earn sustained success in Vietnam because we’ve partnered with tremendous master franchise partners and offer universally-appealing products in our fresh-baked pretzels.”
Auntie Anne’s, which turned 25 in February 2012, is also experiencing growth in the U.S. The Lancaster, Pa.-based company earned its 23rd year of positive sales growth in 2012 and opened its 1,000th domestic location in Elizabethtown, Ky.